Emirati triathlete Faris Al Zaabi made a successful return to action for the first time in more than seven months since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Representing his Spanish club Tri Penta Terras de Lugo, he took first place in the 25-29 age group and placed seventh overall in a field of 116 in the Iberian and Portuguese National Championship in Caminha, Portugal, last Saturday.
Al Zaabi could have finished in a better overall position in the Olympic distance, consisting of a 1,400 meter swim, 44 km bike and 11 km run, if he hadn’t suffered technical issues on the cycling leg.
"Given that it was a non-draft legal triathlon race, I borrowed a triathlon bike from my friend as I typically travel with my road bike," Al Zaabi, whose most recent race prior to Saturday was at the European Duathlon Championships in March, told The National.
“Unfortunately, I had a technical issue with the brakes. The brake pads were rubbing on my back wheel during the bike segment, which cost me a lot of time.
“I was able to make up on the run and ran the race's fastest run split. I am still happy with the result and feel privileged to be back on a start line after not competing for seven months. This race jump-started my system.”
Spain was one of the hotspots of the pandemic and like most international athletes, Al Zaabi’s training schedule was curtailed during lockdown.
“The most important thing for me during lockdown was to focus on what I could control, which was to stay safe,” Al Zaabi said.
“When pools and running tracks were closed during the National Sterilisation Program, I resorted to indoor cycling on my turbo trainer.
“The goal was to improve and stimulate my physiology by cross-training. As restrictions were progressively lifted, I capitalised the windows of opportunities where we were allowed to leave our homes.
“Consistency is key. For me, it is important to be constantly competing and evolving against the best version of myself.”
With the first test passed, Al Zaabi is now closely monitoring the race calendar for the rest of the year.
“There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment,” he said. “The next two races on my calendar are the Spanish Triathlon Sprint Championships for Clubs in Aguilas and the Spanish Duathlon Championships in Soria.
“I was supposed to compete at the Sanya Asian Beach Games with the national team but that has shifted to April 2021. That will be an important race for 2021.”
Al Zaabi, 27, opted to pursue a career as a full time triathlete in August 2017 after completing a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria, in Canada.
While he continues to train as a professional athlete, Al Zaabi has also started his Master's in Sports Industry Management at Georgetown University in the United States.
“Although classes are virtual at the moment due to the Coronavirus, I am really enjoying the program,” he said.
“I believe the global sports industry has an opportunity to re-evaluate and rebuild itself. It is nice to see women's sports gaining momentum and the growing impact of inclusion and diversity in professional and amateur sport. There is no doubt sport is a vehicle for social change.”
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
Winner: AF Al Sajanjle, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
Winner: Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Poetic Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Lava Spin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Mountain Hunter, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Rasi, Harry Bentley (jockey), Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi (trainer).
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m; Winner: Ya Hayati, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Magic Lily, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Eynhallow, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
